When the Distillery District Turned Filipino
By Anjo Pallasigui It was the kind of Toronto summer evening you wish you could bottle. Warm breeze, golden hour light, and music echoing off cobblestone streets. But for many of us there, it wasn’t just another weekend—it was a first. For the first time in its 14-year history, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival opened its stage […]
The Beaches: Toronto’s Lakeside Escape
By Anjo Pallasigui The first time you step onto the boardwalk at The Beaches, it’s hard to believe you’re still in the city. That’s what Cherie discovers in the premiere episode of Neighbourhoods, a new show that explores the charm, quirks, and history of the communities that shape Toronto. Stretching from Coxwell to Victoria Park Avenue, […]
Toronto’s Wildest Homes: From 7 Feet Wide to 50,000 Square Feet
When Cherie Mercado-Santos set out to explore Toronto’s quirkiest and most iconic homes, she found herself standing in front of two extremes—a house so small it once went viral on Ellen, and another so massive it contains its own concert hall. Her first stop: Toronto’s smallest house. Built in 1912 by Arthur Weeden on a plot […]
Cherie Picks: A Library That Feels Like Home
In the heart of Toronto, just steps from the busiest subway hub in the city, stands a quiet sanctuary: the Toronto Reference Library. Cherie walked in not just to borrow books, but to step into possibility. It doesn’t take long to feel the weight of the place—not heavy, but grounding. Designed in the 1970s by […]
A Quiet Force, A Loud Impact: How Kababayan Multicultural Centre Helps Filipino Newcomers Thrive in Canada
There are community centres—and then there’s Kababayan. For over 45 years, the Kababayan Multicultural Centre(KMC) in Toronto has quietly been doing the heavy lifting for Filipino immigrants and other newcomers long before immigration became a trending hashtag. This isn’t a feel-good story. This is real support, for real people, with real challenges. In this episode of Thrive in […]
A Taste of Chiang Mai in the Heart of Toronto
In this episode of Crave & Company, Cherie and her husband Mike take us on a flavorful escape to Thailand—without ever leaving Toronto. Their destination? Chiang Mai Restaurant at York Mills, a cozy and vibrant Thai spot known for rich curries, warm hospitality, and dishes that tell stories. As they settle into the patio, surrounded by […]
The Hidden Chemical in Your Everyday Life That’s Now Linked to Heart Disease
Did you know that a chemical used to soften plastic may be contributing to hundreds of thousands of heart disease deaths around the world? A new global study has just sounded the alarm on DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)—a type of phthalate (pronounced thal-ates) used in everything from vinyl flooring and medical tubing to shampoo bottles and food packaging. […]
Thrive in Canada: Turning Job Search Challenges into Career Wins with Access Employment
“Most of the jobs out there? They’re never posted.” That’s how Mangjit Deman, Senior VP at Access Employment, kicked off a deeply insightful conversation on Thrive in Canada. And for thousands of newcomers struggling to find meaningful work, this fact can be both sobering and empowering. In this episode, we dive into the realities of job hunting in […]
Spring in Canada: A Lesson in Trusting the Wait
Spring in Canada doesn’t arrive with fanfare. It tiptoes in, like someone who texted “on the way” an hour ago but still hasn’t shown up. The calendar says it’s here—but step outside and the cold air, silent birds, and undecided trees will have you questioning everything. Canadian spring is an exercise in patience. It’s the […]
Thrive in Canada: How Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities Is Redefining Health Care for Newcomers and Families
In Canada, especially in fast-growing urban areas like Scarborough, healthcare is more than checkups and prescriptions. It’s also about housing, food access, mental well-being, and a sense of belonging. On this episode of Thrive in Canada, host Cherie Mercado sits down with Mesh Marxa and Mimi Domano of the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) to unpack how healthcare has evolved—especially for newcomers, seniors, and […]
